Importance of Water Filtration Systems - Research Paper Example

The Importance of Water Filtration Systems Introduction One can hardly appreciate the infamous assertion that “water is life” and that it is the most crucial element in human survival. It will either take lack of water or disease caused by drinking of impure or contaminated water causing illness for one to appreciate why safe and clean water is essential for human survival. I have had this experience first-hand. In our residential area, we rely on the privately owned water sources, and water is tested three times a year to ensure that it is safe for human consumption. As such, we do not experience the effects of contaminated water. I once visited a friend in another neighborhood and thought that their water is usually purified just like ours. I therefore went ahead and drank water from the cistern without the knowledge that water from the cistern in their neighborhood is not meant for drinking but for farming purposes. After several minutes, I began feeling ill; I vomited and later on started to diarrhea. I was taken to the hospital and treated and eventually my health resumed to normal after three days. It is the worst experience I have ever had in my life. I would not wish any other person to have such an experience ever. This can only be possible if there are drinking water filtration systems in water sources in all neighborhoods. Water filtration systems are of significant importance. Water is very essential for human survival. On average, the human body is more than 70 percent water. Vital systems and organs including liver, brain and blood are over 80 percent water. This illustrates the fact that human beings, to a large degree, are what they drink. The importance of water in human body is underlined by the role that water plays especially as regards every chemical reaction (Gertsen and Linus 16). Water aids in absorption of food, digestion, regulation of body temperature, carrying nutrients to cells, blood circulation, and excretion of wastes among others. In addition, water cushions body joints and protect organs and tissues from damage and shock. Conversely, when human body dehydrates or lack water, it can cause many ailments. Extreme dehydration can aggravate or cause many problems such as allergies, migraine headaches, asthma, and hypertension. It is not enough to have water; the water must be pure and uncontaminated for human consumption. Contaminated water is the cause of numerous degenerative diseases, as well as neurological illnesses such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, depression, Attention Deficit Disorder, and anxiety among others (Coca-Prados and Gemma 44). Considering the important role of water in the functioning of all body systems and organs, its purity is the most essential and basic key to proper human health and longevity. There are various methods of ensuring that drinking water is pure and safe for human consumption including filtration, use of chemical disinfectant, and boiling of water (Omelchenko, Alexander and Swindall 9). Filtration using water filtration systems has proved to be one of the most common methods of purifying water. These systems facilitate filtration of water thereby removing particles from water as the water filters or passes through the systems. There are three methods used in water filtration systems. The first one is sediment filtration that removes clay, impurities, and sand from the water. The second one is carbon filtration that is used in reducing poor taste, chemical quantities, chlorine odor, as well as other pollutants. The third method is reverse osmosis, which entails removing several impurities from water such as turbidity, salts, chlorine, and dissolved solids, as well as bacteria and many dissolved organics. Reverse osmosis is considered the most effective of the three filtration methods (Gertsen and Linus 52). So, what is the importance of water filtration systems? These systems entail processes that kill germs, bacteria, or virus in the water and which has the potential of causing diseases to human beings. As has been mentioned, filtration processes is very effective in killing all forms of contaminants in the water thereby guaranteeing pure and safe water for drinking (Coca-Prados and Gemma 49). These systems ensure that drinking water is free from impurities that may cause diseases. Apart from getting rid of impurities, filtration systems reduce chemical quantities and odors that may not only harm human health but may make water unpalatable to drink. Modern water filtration systems have a series of technologies that are used in obtaining the desired result, which is safe and purified water. These systems can be as small used from one source of water only, or can be whole house that can be used in filtering the entire water supply for a home or a neighborhood (Omelchenko, Alexander and Swindall 20). The other importance of water filtration systems is that it ensures the general health living for human beings. Apart from ensuring that human beings are drinking clean and pure water, they also provide pure and clean water for cooking, cleaning, showering, and laundry (Gertsen and Linus 69). Water filtration systems ensure that human beings obtain healthy benefits for their hair, skin, and overall well-being and therefore they are able to engage in productive activities every day. As has been noted, clean and safe water obtained from water filtration systems helps in digestion, nutrients absorption, metabolism, detoxification, and virtually all aspect of quality health. In essence, it helps to reduce health risk significantly especially the risk of colon cancer, bladder cancer, and rectal cancer that have been associated with unsafe and impure water. It also reduces the gastrointestinal disease risk by more than 33 percent by removing giardia and cryptosporidium from drinking water (Omelchenko, Alexander and Swindall 33). It has also been established that water filters result in the healthiest water, which is essential in developing strong immune systems. More and more people are investing in water filtration systems for their homes with the intention of removing contaminants from water, but also making water to taste better and consume water more to obtain health benefits that comes with that (Coca-Prados and Gemma 97). Besides the health importance of water filtration systems is the environmental importance. These systems are environmentally friendly as they help in reducing bottled water usage. As a result, they minimize landfill, as well as costs associated with bottled water (Omelchenko, Alexander and Swindall 39). Environmental experts have cited plastics as one of the leading causes of environmental degradation and its use should be reduced significantly. Water filtration systems provide a sustainable way of purifying water and minimizing the use of plastic bottles at home and in other settings such as work places and schools. This goes a long way in promoting sustainable environmental conservation efforts (Gertsen and Linus 83). In addition, the use of water filtration systems at home and other settings such as schools allows for the reuse of bottles; people reuse existing bottles to fill water. In particular, they reuse glass bottles that have small health and environmental effects. In addition, since the filtration process does not use electricity or result to wasting water, it helps in bettering the environment by reducing energy consumption. Besides, these systems do not result to environmental pollution in any way, making it environmentally friendly in many respects (Omelchenko, Alexander and Swindall 53). The other importance of water filtration systems is that it is cost-effective. The installation of water filtration systems is affordable and many households, schools, workplaces, and other settings can easily afford to install them. Once these systems have been installed, they require minimal cost to maintain over a long period. In addition, in an event that it is installed and maintained by a service provider, its billing is convenient and often comes with lifetime product maintenance and service warranty (Omelchenko, Alexander and Swindall 63). In fact, some service providers may provide free installation, as well as filtration system with no upfront costs. Apart from the affordable installation and maintenance costs, water filtration systems have other potential cost savings. For example, they prolong appliance lifecycle making appliances to last longer. Additionally, they improve performance of appliances due to of reduced scaling. Filtration get rid of impurities that result to hard water; the effect of this is that detergents, shampoos, and soaps clean and lather better and therefore they are consumed in reduced quantities, ultimately saving costs (Coca-Prados and Gemma 105). The other cost benefits relate to saving money that could have been used in buying plastic water bottles. However, despite the many highlighted importance of water filtration systems, there are some disadvantages associated with these systems. It has been argued that water filtration results to introduction of silicates and phosphates. These substances are rarely found in natural water supplies (Gertsen and Linus 92). Some experiments have shown that certain filtration processes may introduce carcinogens and ions, which may increase the water alkalinity. Increased water alkalinity makes water may dry one’s skin and make water to taste bad. The critics of water filtration systems argue that while they have numerous benefits, some of their disadvantages need to be addressed in order to make sure that filtrated water achieve are safer and purer (Coca-Prados and Gemma 118). Conclusion The fact that water is very essential for human survival cannot be disputed. The importance of water in human body is underlined by the role that water plays especially as regards every chemical reaction. Water aids in absorption of food, digestion, regulation of body temperature, carrying nutrients to cells, blood circulation, and excretion of wastes among others. Considering the important role of water in the functioning of all body systems and organs, its purity is the most essential and basic key to proper human health and longevity. Water filtration systems play important role in purifying water and making sure it is safe and clean for human consumption. As has been discussed, these systems are important in three main ways: for healthy living; for better environment; and for cost savings. Works Cited Coca-Prados, Jose?, and Gemma Gutie?rrez-Cervello?. Water Purification and Management. Dordrecht: Springer, 2011. Gertsen, Nikolaj, and Linus Sonderby. Water Purification. New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2009. Print. Omelchenko, Alexander, Alexander Pivovarov, and W J. Swindall. Modern Tools and Methods of Water Treatment for Improving Living Standards. Dordrecht: Springer, 2005. Internet resource. Read More